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“Because of Cody?”
“Because of my son, Luke.”
The idea of Carter wanting to be close to his nephew warms my heart, makes me like him even more than I already do. If only there was a way I could convince him to look at me a little differently.
We pull into the driveway of a sprawling ranch home that sits on what feels like endless acres of land.
“You have a beautiful home.”
“Thank you. It was a gift from my brother. The first thing he bought with his insanely high salary.”
Jesus, the man just keeps getting better.
When we walk into the home, my eyes immediately gravitate toward Carter who is sitting at the dining room table. Across from him is a little boy in a wheelchair.
Luke. The reason he bought the house. The reason he wanted to be close to home.
The view outside is nothing compared to the view inside. Both sitting there with huge smiles on their faces. Carter looking more at peace than I’ve ever seen him. I want to freeze this moment—for him and for me.
“Look who I found,” Char replies as enters the dining room. “I hear she’s a movie star.”
Carter glances up from the Go-Fish cards he has in his hands to glare at his sister.
“If Luke wasn’t here, I would have some choice words for you, sis.”
“Bad words?” the little boy asks.
“All the bad words,” Carter replies.
“Don’t listen to your uncle.” Char ruffles the little boy’s hair. “He’s just in a bad mood. He hasn’t gotten any in a while.”
“Gotten any what?” the boy asks.
“Cereal. Your mom ate it all this morning,” Carter replies, shaking his head at his sister. “Jesus, Char.”
“What? It’s true.” She laughs.
“Who are you?” the little boy asks as he moves toward me in his wheelchair, with an ability no child his age should have.
I squat down and extend my hand to him. “I’m Lexie.”
“Are you Uncle Carter’s girlfriend?”
I look at Carter, my heart sinking a little, then back at the little boy.
“No, I’m his therapist. I’m here to help him make his arm better.”
“Oh.” The little boy sounds disappointed.I am too, kid.Then as if a lightbulb turned on, a wide smile emerges on Luke’s sweet face. “Do you want to be his girlfriend? He’s the best uncle ever. He’s a lot of fun, and he’s nice, too. Oh, and he buys the best presents. If you will be his girlfriend, I’m sure he’d be extra nice to you.”
I swallow down the emotions the little boy’s words stir up—sadness, regret. As great as he is at selling how wonderful his uncle is, he doesn’t even know the half of it. Neither did I until now.
Thankfully, Char steps in, resting a hand on her son’s shoulder. “Come on, Luke, let’s give Uncle Carter some privacy.”
“Ugh. Fine. Just think about it, okay, Lexie?” Luke asks.
“I will.” I do. In fact, it’s all I’ve thought about since I met him. Since I blew it.
Luke leads Char out of the room, leaving Carter and I alone.
